Steel Markets
September 10, 2015
Construction Labor Shortage Becoming Critical
Written by Sandy Williams
Construction firms are finding it increasingly difficult to find qualified craft workers, according to a new report by the Associated General Contractors of America. More than 2 million construction workers were laid off in the 2008 recession with many of those never returning to the industry.
In a survey of 1,358 construction firms, 86 percent said they are having difficulty finding hourly craft or salaried professional positions. The problem is most critical for hourly craft positions with carpenters in greatest shortage, followed by sheet metal workers, concrete workers, electricians, and equipment operators. In the salaried category, 55 percent of respondents had difficulty finding project managers/supervisors, followed by estimating professionals and engineers.
